If only Waylon could see his son now. Waylon Jennings has left a lasting legacy in country music, not only through his career but also for instilling a love of music in his son, Shooter Jennings. Shooter Jennings and Waylon Jennings are all the talk right now with the release of the unearthed record Songbird. The album is the first of a three-part project that showcases music recorded during the prime of Waylon’s career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shooter Jennings (@shooterjennings) The album is truly a piece of art, and it’s incredible to hear new music from the late, great Waylon Jennings with the help of his talented son. Much of the music was recorded with Waylon’s band, The Waylors, in the prime of his career. It was all happening around the time that Waylon had won the fight for creative control, and he was making music on his own terms at this point: “What became very apparent to me was that my dad was recording constantly with his band The Waylors between tours. Just having won the David-and-Goliath battle against RCA for creative control and artistic freedom, Waylon was awarded the ability to record his music on his terms in his own studios, with his touring band, and without label oversight and without any outside influence.” Shooter explained that these weren’t just demos; they had been cut in a studio with the intention of being released, though unfortunately, for whatever reason, they just never made it to an album at that time: “There was just so much inside, my mind was blown! These weren’t demos, these were songs that were cut with the intention of releasing, and as time went on, not all of them found places on the albums that Waylon and the Waylors were releasing at the time.” Shooter really took this project to the next level when he brought in surviving members of the Waylors to help him with the project’s final touches. Songbird is a beautiful tribute to the life and legacy of Shooter Jennings’ father. And Shooter has made quite a legacy for himself in the music business, not only as a legendary producer but also as a talented musician. This Jennings musical genes run deep, eh? As I’ve been enjoying Songbird since its release, I’ve also found myself watching many old Waylon Jennings interviews where he talks about Shooter. One of my favorite interviews is when Waylon shares that coloring with a young Shooter was the moment that he knew he needed to get clean from drugs and alcohol so that he could be there for his son. His Dad’s Footsteps However, in another interview with the Australian LeGarde Twins, Waylon discusses Shooter in a way that almost predicts he would become a musical great. While Waylon does not explicitly say that he thought Shooter would become the famed producer he is today, when he was asked if he hoped Shooter followed in his footsteps as a cowboy and outlaw, Jennings responds: “You know, I’m like any other dad. That would give me a lot of pride. But when I sat right down and thought about it, I think there’s more to him than that. He’s 10 years old, and we go back to the smart and not smart, you know? Shooter is very smart. He’s much smarter than I ever was, you know? He learns much quicker.”  Waylon then gives an example of how smart Shooter was as a young kid, and when Waylon was getting his high school degree through a GED program, Shooter helped his father learn fractions. It feels like Waylon was peering into the future, given that producers have to be very astute individuals. Producers must be well-versed in mixing, music theory, have a strong ear for arrangements and composition, and be willing to learn the ever-changing software used to produce the songs we listen to today. Waylon would be proud of Shooter, following in his footsteps while paving his own path. Take a listen while you’re here. The question occurs at the 12-minute mark of the interview: The post Waylon Jennings Once Said That While He’d Love To See Shooter Follow In His Footsteps, He Felt Like “There’s More To Him Than That” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.